Retrospective analysis of the prevalence and causes of anaemia in hospitalised elderly patients
South African Family Practice
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Retrospective analysis of the prevalence and causes of anaemia in hospitalised elderly patients | |
| Creator | van Staden, Anna M. Weich, Dirk J.V. | |
| Description | Introduction: Anaemia is common in the elderly. Little is known regarding anaemia in hospitalised elderly patients in South Africa. A retrospective study determined the prevalence and causes of anaemia in elderly patients hospitalised for acute medical problems.Methods: Patients with anaemia were identified from the computerised database of a geriatric unit. Laboratory tests and clinical information on these patients were reviewed to determine the cause of the anaemia defined according to the WHO criteria (haemoglobin level ≤ 12 g/l for women and ≤ 13 g/l men).Results: Of 759 consecutive geriatric patients, 236 (31.1%) were anaemic. The majority (n = 150; 63.6%) were female, with a mean age of 82.2 years. The male patients had a mean age of 80.8 years. The mean haemoglobin values were 10.7 g/l and 10.2 g/l for male and female patients, respectively. In 96 (40.7%) patients, the cause of anaemia could not be determined. Of the remaining 140 patients, 25.7% had anaemia of chronic disorders, 24.3% had iron deficiency anaemia and 13.6% had multiple causes.Conclusion: Approximately one-third of hospitalised elderly patients were anaemic on admission, although many were not adequately investigated. Chronic disorders and iron deficiency were the most common causes of anaemia. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2015-09-01 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/safp.v57i5.4237 | |
| Source | South African Family Practice; Vol 57, No 5 (2015): September/October; 3 2078-6204 2078-6190 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/4237/7691
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT
